People who drive 40 everywhere

if you’re behind someone who brakes it’s impossible to judge whether they are just slowing gradually for an impending corner or because there is a real need to suddenly brake (ie an animal in the road Can't you tell by whether there's a rapidly decreasing distance between you and them?

I was referring to drivers who don't slow down to 30 when driving at a consistent 40.

That happens here too, a major road is 50mph, when I turn into my single track road with passing places I could do 60mph. Apparently speed limits are determined by the use of the road and the amount of property along it, hence a little used 'road', the sort that's so narrow you can scratch both sides of the car at the same time, are derestricted.
I'm not sure if they still do it but some major routes in Germany used to have a minimum speed limit to deter dawdlers.

But purposely changing down through the gears deliberately to slow down is putting immense stress/pressure/wear and tear on the clutch and gearbox and should be avoided.

Absolutely this. Brakes to slow, gears to go.

If NCD was that relevant, the NCD discount would be much higher than it commonly is. For example, Admiral maximum NCD (9 years) is only 27%!

Other factors have more influence on the total premium, such as the make and model of car, age, driver's age, numbers of years without offence nor accident, etc., number of years a licence has been held, etc., number of named drivers, address, etc etc.

The maximum discount for NCD is also typically 9 years, so it makes no difference if your NCD is 10 years nor 30 years, which kinds of proves that driving claim free for 40 years is no better than for 10 years!

It is also pretty cheap to have a protected NCD which again tends to suggest a full NCD isn't that much of an issue to the insurance firm.

OK 🤷‍♀️

Can’t help people who don’t want to be helped I guess, but the fact remains that if you can’t manage a concept as simple as acceleration sense then you’re a poor driver.

My late OH used to call 40mph the Norfolk speed limit, whatever the posted limit was, for many drivers over a certain age!

Yes indeed, engine braking is good for the car, as long as you stay in the same gear whilst doing it, i.e. change gear only once you've slowed down.

But purposely changing down through the gears deliberately to slow down is putting immense stress/pressure/wear and tear on the clutch and gearbox and should be avoided.

Yes, I know some driving instructors teach it that way, but that's really for just slow speeds and is an aid to instruction mostly for getting accustomed to changing gears really. It's not advised nor encouraged for "proper" driving.

You won't fail your normal driving test by braking to slow down or stop rather than changing down through the gears to do the same. You're only potential advisory would be if you didn't depress your clutch as you coast to a stop and end up kangarooing!

Tell that to the insurance company.

Anecdote isn't evidence.

I agree. I was an advanced motoring "observer" for around 20 years and lots of our "learners" were OAPs, many wanted to brush up on the driving as they realised they weren't as safe as they used to be, some wanted reminders of all the things they used to know which they'd forgotten, some just did it for a kind of hobby/interest.

Very few were "lost causes" and the vast majority passed their IAM advanced driving test in the same timescale as younger drivers. In fact, there was only one old lady that we had to give up on, she was in her 90s, had what was an ancient "classic" car, which she literally couldn't drive - she wasn't particularly dangerous but very slow and ponderous and completely incapable of doing things any differently to how she'd been driving for decades - no matter how many times and how many different observers went out with her, she just couldn't do anything differently, she wanted to, it wasn't her being stroppy or arrogant etc., but she just couldn't remember when/how to do anything different and basically just drove on muscle memory.

What is the matter with you? The evidence I post here suggests I am, it’s certainly good enough for my insurer to assess my risk and give me a full no claims discount. I don’t want to learn more skills, thank you. I have far more important things to do with my time and money.

Or even just buy a copy of Roadcraft

And yet the evidence you post here suggests you’re not. Not having accidents is kind of the bare minimum really, it doesn’t mean you’re “perfectly good”. Try the IAM, go for an assessment drive then have a few lessons, you’ll be amazed with the skills you can learn.

I really don’t care what I sound like to you. The evidence is very clear that I’m a perfectly good driver.

The IAM actually does courses for older drivers (and young, just passed test, drivers too) so nobody is too old to have lessons with them.

I agree - if someone isn't paying attention they will go into the back of you brake lights or no. They shouldn't be that close, anyway.

No, you sound like a pretty poor driver to me! Balls to being too old, plenty of older people take advanced courses and tests, age is no barrier.

And engine braking is much better for your car. I hate it when people brake all the time when there is no need to. Just lift your foot off the gas. And no, people won't go into you.

Yes, or at least brake every time someone comes towards them. Fine on a narrow country lane, a bit silly on a wide two way traffic road!

I’m way too old to have advanced lessons. Like I said if it ain’t broke, why fix it? I think I’ve probably honed my driving skill pretty well in 40 accident free years over tens of thousands of miles, don’t you? Anyway enjoy your brake free driving.

It's more than likely harming your car meaning you'll need new brake pads more often and also more strain on suspension etc.

Ever wondered why, when driving down a road of free flowing traffic on a clear day (Motorway or dual carriageway in particular) and there's congestion which clears for no obvious reason. More than likely it was caused by someone who got too close or failed to observe a junction or slip road and ended up having to brake, which causes the "concertina" or "ripple" effect where their braking leads all the cars behind to brake, and so it goes on, often for a mile or two.

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/ever-wondered-why-theres-a-traffic-jam-on-a-motorway-with-no-reason.18790728/

Well, it’s certainly not the behaviour of a good driver! Do you go through life only doing things as you were taught and never looking to improve? Driving is a skill which you hone as your experience grows. Maybe you should do some advanced lessons, sounds like you might learn a thing or two?

In your opinion. It’s not a matter of can’t, if you were taught to drive a certain way and have done so for decades you’re not going to change, are you? If it ain’t broke, why fix it? And it’s not harming anyone.